SHORT-TERM STUDY PROGRAMMES
ENHANCING GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES THROUGH IMMERSION
SHORT-TERM STUDY PROGRAMMES
SUMMER SESSION: MAY
WINTER SESSION: DECEMBER
Two Customised SSP Formats: One-Week Non-Credit Bearing and Two-Week Credit Bearing
Summer Exchange Programme: Two to Four Weeks Credit Bearing
Study and live abroad for one to four weeks during SMU’s term breaks, and fulfil your Global Exposure graduation requirement
Earn academic credits towards your SMU degree programme on the two-week credit-bearing SSP or Summer Exchange Programme
Go global from your first year at SMU – SSPs are available to Year One students too
Enjoy the camaraderie of SMU peers and the convenience of a pre-arranged programme on customised SSPs
The SSP Experience
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
See our Destinations
SSP in China
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| Partner Universities |
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SSP in Indonesia
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| Partner University |
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SSP in Thailand
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| Partner Universities |
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SSP in Vietnam
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| Partner Universities |
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SSP TIMELINE AT A GLANCE
1 BEFORE APPLICATION
ATTEND
SSP Info Session in February (Summer) or August (Winter)
RESEARCH
SSP destinations and formats
PREPARE
Study plans and update CCA records in ICMS
2 DURING APPLICATION
APPLY
For SSP in February (Summer) or August (Winter)
ACCEPT
Offer by March (Summer) or September (Winter)
COMPLETE
Payment to secure your offer
3 BEFORE DEPARTURE
ATTEND
Pre-departure briefing
SUBMIT
Online exchange worksheet and apply for Visa
COMPLETE
Pre-departure checklist
The Summer session takes place in May and the Winter session in December.
Destinations in previous years have included Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand. However, destinations offered are subject to changes and not all destinations will be offered each year.
An exciting range of learning activities designed to deepen students’ understanding of the destination’s history, culture, politics, and economy will be organised by the partner university. These activities may include field trips, excursions, company visits, and guest lectures.
Students must fulfill all attendance and group work components to be awarded Global Exposure.
The Summer session takes place in May and the Winter session in December.
Destinations in previous years have included Yogyakarta in Indonesia, Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Bangkok in Thailand, and Xiamen in China. However, destinations offered are subject to changes and not all destinations will be offered each year.
Students will read a pre-arranged course at their selected SSP partner university during the two weeks. An exciting range of activities designed to deepen students’ understanding of the destination’s history, culture, politics, and economy will be also be organised by the partner university. These activities, which are included in the programme fee, may include field trips, excursions, company visits, and guest lectures.
Students must pass all mandatory coursework components on the SSP to transfer one Credit Unit on a Pass/Fail basis, and to be awarded Global Exposure.
SSPs offered by Summer Exchange partner universities are only available during the Summer session.
Students will pay SMU special term fees. Miscellaneous and other fees, such as application, visa, accommodation, and related expenses will be paid directly to the partner university.
Applications for the Summer Exchange Programme will open at the same time as the two-week credit bearing SSPs.
Courses available each year are subject to partner universities, while course mapping and transfer is subject to approval from SMU. A maximum of two Credit Units can be transferred.
Students seeking Summer and Winter programmes beyond the customised SSPs and the Summer Exchange partner universities may consider self-arranging such programmes, subject to the approval of their Schools. See OASIS for more information.
Pre-approved Course Mapping
All two-week credit-bearing SSP courses are pre-approved for specific course areas. You can find out more about previous course areas mapped for different SSPs on OASIS, or when applications for the SSP open each year.
Course mapping is not required for the one-week non-credit bearing SSPs.
Students who apply to programmes offered by our Summer Exchange Partners will need to research and determine their own course mapping.
Students must complete the first year of their studies with cGPA:
≥ 3.0 for YPHSL students
≥ 2.0 for students from other schools
Students who are in their graduating term of study, or who plan to graduate in Term 3, cannot apply for the two-week credit-bearing SSP or Summer Exchange Programme.
Please also note that students who are taking courses in the immediate next regular term after the external study term will be required to pay the full-term fees, even if they have only one last course to clear.
Start of Applications in February (Summer) or August (Winter)
- GEO will announce via emails from smushortterm@smu.edu.sg the start of applications, typically in February for Summer SSPs and in August for Winter SSPs.
- Applications for the two-week credit-bearing SSPs, as well as programmes offered by our Summer Exchange Partners will be via Exchange Application in OASIS.
- Applications for the one-week non-credit bearing SSP will be through a form.
- A student may apply for all three programmes, i.e. the one-week, two-week customised SSPs and the Summer Exchange Programme, but only one spot on one programme will eventually be offered.
After Applications
- Upon acceptance of SMU’s conditional offer of admission to the programme, students are required to make a non-refundable full programme fee.
- Students will be required to purchase their own flight ticket and are highly encouraged to purchase the recommended flight.
Customised SSP Fees - 2026
| Description | 1-Week Non-Credit Bearing SSP | 2-Week Credit-Bearing SSP |
| Administrative Fee | S$218 | |
Programme Fee
| S$900 | S$1500 |
All fees are inclusive of GST of 9%.
Summer Exchange Programme
Students on the Summer Exchange Programme will pay SMU special term fees. Miscellaneous and other fees, such as application, visa, accommodation, and related expenses will be paid directly to the partner university.
The Lillyn Teh Global Endeavour Grant provides funding for eligible students on the two-week credit-bearing SSP.
All funding is subject to availability and students must apply separately for the grant via OASIS All Apps (Financial Aid Application).
- Attend GEO’s Pre-Departure Briefings to meet GEO staff and find out how best to prepare for your programme.
- Apply for a Visa (if necessary), purchase your air tickets and additional travel insurance, if required.
- Stay on top of any relevant administrative processes.
- You have the assurance of round-the-clock assistance from SMU’s emergency service provider while you are overseas. Students are highly encouraged to download the ISOS mobile application.
- SMU provides university-wide corporate travel insurance for all students travelling overseas to participate in qualified global exposure activities. For more details on SMU’s travel insurance, see here.
HEAR NEW PERSPECTIVES
"One of the most memorable experiences during the trip was the combination of structured academic sessions and informal, everyday moments shared with classmates and local students around Chiang Mai University. I realised that daily life in Chiang Mai is deeply rooted in simplicity, social connection, and balance. Observing how locals and students prioritised relationships, shared meals, and unhurried interactions helped me appreciate a slower pace of life."
Nur Elysha Umairah Binte Shahrom
Bachelor of Accountancy
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, CMU Chiang Mai
"Trying activities I hadn’t expected to enjoy helped me build confidence and adaptability. Navigating unfamiliar places and routines taught me patience and problem-solving. By the end of the trip, I felt more self-assured and willing to embrace uncertainty, showing me how travel can support personal growth and self-development."
Nur Liyana Binte Mohamad Joned
Bachelor of Social Science
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, PIM Bangkok
"I would strongly advise future exchange students to be open-minded and to wholeheartedly embrace spontaneity. An exchange trip is a unique opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, so do not limit yourself to what feels familiar. Be willing to try strange foods, engage in conversations with people you don't know, and accept that plans might change. If you stay too rigid, you will miss the best parts of the trip. Embracing the unexpected allows you to grow and leads to the most authentic memories."
Arthur Chan Yeat Fuen
Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, VNU iLEAD HCMC
"What surprised me most was the warmth and attentiveness of the people. Despite language barriers, locals were patient and willing to help, often going out of their way to make us feel welcome. The trip taught me that firsthand experience is far more meaningful than preconceived ideas, and that understanding a place requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to engage beyond surface level impressions."
Tan Shee Teng Selene
Bachelor of Business Management
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, HSB Hanoi
“While the scheduled daytime activities were informative, the unscheduled evenings allowed for deep, organic immersion into local life. This flexibility was where the most significant learning occurred, such as our dinner with the local volunteers. Having that time to decompress and explore at our own pace allowed us to process the day's lessons and build authentic relationships with the community outside of a formal setting.”
Neo Zhi Sheng
Bachelor of Business Management
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, XMU Xiamen
“This exchange improved my cross-cultural communication skills and made me more open-minded. Through these interactions, I gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and built connections that made the trip more meaningful and memorable.”
Adrian Loo Jun Hang
Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, XMU Xiamen
“My perspective evolved from that of an observer to a participant, especially through experiences like a calligraphy lesson where I learned that true cultural exchange happens not in perfect observation, but in the shared, humble attempt to connect. I learned to navigate daily life, appreciate layered identities, and discovered that the greatest value lay in having my assumptions gently challenged by the city's vibrant reality.”
Lin Zhenhan
Bachelor of Science (Information Systems)
SSP Winter 2025 Participant, XMU Xiamen
Speak to our Short-term Study Programme Team
We are committed to furthering your learning journey towards global citizenship.
If you have any questions about Short-Term programmes in SMU, reach out to us at smushortterm@smu.edu.sg.
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